Sheet-delivery mechanism



FeB. 55", 1929.

'Filed Nov. 19, 19215 7 sheets-,sheet l1 hwentoz Feb, 5;v 1929n 1300,77@

R. c. SEYMOUR SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM Filed NQV. 19, 1925 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 5, 1929.

R. C. SEYMOUR SHEET DELIVERY MECH'ANISM Filed Nov. 19, 1925 7 sheets-smet. "3

FH). 5,V 1929.

- R. C. SEYMOUR SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM 7 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Nov. 19.l 1925 wwe/nto@ l Feb,'5, 1929. 1,700,776

R. c. SEYMOUR SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM Filed Nov. 1 9, 1925 '1 sheets-sheet e Feb. 5, 1929. j

' R. C. SEYMOUR SHEET DELIVVRY MECHANISM 4 Filed Nov. 19, -1925 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 lo zal) delivery mechanism for printing presses and- Parenteel Peas, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT foF'FIC-E.- l.

:RALPH C. SEYMOUR, 0F r:SHORT HILLS,NEW JERSEY.

l SHEET-DELIVERY MECHANISM.

applicati@v med November 19, 1925. V serial No. 70.001'.

"Ihe invention relates toa novel and useful the jlike, and moreparticularly to such a mechanism adapted vto deliver successive pointed out in the appended claims.

, The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, Acombinatlons and improvements herein shown and described.

The' accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to eX- plain the principles of the invention.' y

Fig. V1 is iaf side elevation, frame cut away for clear-ness, of la mechanism embodying. the invention; f

' Fig. 2 is a top plan, corresponding to Fig. 1, partly in section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation, greatly nlarged, of the central left-hand part of ig. 1; v

Fig.- 4 is a top plan, with parts in section, and parts broken`away, of the Acollect-ing cylinder shown at the left in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is Va fragmentary, detail elevation', with the front frame removed, of the left central part of Fig. 1, and showing certain .partsomitted from Fi .1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line Slt-6 of Fig.` 5;

Fig. 7 is a' greatly tion on line.7-7 of Fig. 2;

Fig. V8 is a fragmentary perspective of the forwarding tapes in position at the head' of a group of sheets and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section, greatly enlarged, through the tape and wind break.

The invention is directed to' providing a mechanism *adapted to deliver printed or other -sheets, especially sheets of large size and 'of relatively great thinnes's, from a ro- `tating collecting or other cylinder, and vto deliver the. successive sheets-or group of sheets at upon a stack of delivered sheets. The

invention provides likewise for smoothing v groups of sheets, especially large sheets of 4with the front enlarged,l vertical secand stretching the sheets during delivery,

and for changing the level of the pile of delivered sheets, as the'work of delivery progresses.` 4

Other features and adaptations of the invention will be set forth in connection with the following` detailed description of the present preferred embodiment of the invention, which embodiment it will be understood is illustrative and explanatory of the .invention, but is not restrictive thereof. -C

Referring now in detail to the embodimentof the invention, illustrated by way of example ,in the accompanying drawings, the delivery mechanism is exemplified attached to and receiving Va web -'from a fast rotary press- ,the press not being shown). AThe web is'xcut into successive sheets by a rotary cuttingmechanism having cylinders 1 and 42, provided one with a cutting knife 3 and the other with a cooperating cutting groove 4, the cylinders having respective bearings 5 and. 6, in the/.machine frame.

'In the preferred embodimentI of the invention, a lplurality of successive sheets are receivedfrom the cutting cylinders and are .collected one upon the other on a collecting cylinder 10, and are thence delivered in a group to the delivery mechanism. The collecting cylinder has its shaft 11 journaled in bearings 13 and 14 in lthe machine frame; A tucking roller 18, has its shaft 19 journaled in'bearings 20 and 21 in the machine frame,

the tucking roller cooperating with the sei ries of impaling pins carried by the collecting'cylinder, the t-ucking cylinder 18 havinga recess 18a therein for this purpose, this mechanism operating in a well-known manner.

Referring in detail to the sheet handling mechanism of the collecting cylinder, a. plurality of spaced-apart impaling pins 26 are reciprocably mounted in apertures27 in a correspondingseries of spaced-apart guide blocks 28 formed inthe cylindrical-wall of the cylinder. The respective impaling pins are pivoted at 29 to a corresponding seriesof arms 30, which arms are Xed on a shaft '31, this shaft being journaled at 32 and/33 inthe cylinder lhead. AtA one end the shaft 31 projects from the cylinder, and has fixed c l thereto an'actuating arm 34, upon which is A rotatably mounted a-cam roller 36.

The 'impaling pins are impelled to the pro- 'I trudingv or impaling pos1tion by suitable spring means, which as embodied comprises anarm 37,1ixed on shaft 31. within the col'- lectino' arm 37 is a rod 38', reciprocable in an aperture 1n a lug 39, fixed to the inner face of theend wall of the cylinder. A'helical spring-40 encircles thevrod 48, and is i'n compression between the'pivoted shouldered head of the rod 38 and the lug 39.

Means are provided for' retracting the impaling pins, against the action ofrspring.` 40, from the group of sheets at the moment of the release of the group, and the embodied form thereof'comprises a cam-49,; movable in timed relation into and out of the path of and mounted on an arm 50, pivoted on a lug 51,

fixed on the machine frame. Integral with an arm 50 is an arm 52l'to which is pivotally i connected at '53 a rod 54, which rod-is actuated from a cam shaft, which will be later described in connection with the actuating i au means for the stripping arms.

Means are provided for strippingthe head of the'impaled Vgroup of-,sli'eets from the impaling pins lat the moment of delivery, and

'as embodied, said means comprises a plurality of stripping fingers 59, fixed respectively to short arms 60, which arms are fixed on a shaft 61, journaled 'at 62 and 63 ,in the heads of the collecting'r cylinder. The stripping fingers '59 work in therecesses between the guide blocks 28 for the impaling pins, alreadyfdescribed, and thus engage the sheets between the impaling pins, and substantially in alinement therewith,'to disengage vthe .heads ofthesheets fromthe pins, and'dire'ct them into the deliverymechanism.

The stripping fin ers 59 are normally re-' siliently held out of the stripping position,

' and for this purposean arm 65 is fixed to shaft 61, and a rod 66 is pivotally connected to the end of the arm and is reciprocable. in an aperture in a lug 67, projectinginwardl from the adjacent head of the collecting cy inder. A helical spring 68 encircles the rod 66, and, is in tension between the shouldered pivoted head 'of the rod and the lug 67.

lThe embodied form of means f ormomentarily actuating the stripping fingers 59 to disengage th'e sheet heads from the impaling pins, comprises an arm 73, fixed exteriorly to the cylinder to an endof shaft 61, ywhich projects from the-head of thecy'lindcr. The arm 73has a Lcam roller 74 pivotally mounted on'the `end thereof. Cooperating with the cam roller 74 is cam 7 5, movable in timed relation into and out of the path of ca m roller 74. For this purpose it isfixed on anarm 76., Awhich arm is `pivotally mounted upon a 'bracket 77, fixed to thefinner faceof the machine frame.'

In the embodied means for so moving cam 75, i/nte ral with the arm 76 is an arm 7 6, and

pivotal y connected at 78 to the' end of thearm 7 6a is ran actuating rod79. 'Therad 54 (which .actuatesthe' stripping fingers) and rod 79 are actuated from' common cam shaft, and: the

cylinder. l Pivotally connected to the *of the collecting cylinder.

connection from the rods 7 9 'to the shaft will.

be described as applying=to`the actuating means' for either.

In the embodied form of said means, a cam nshaft 91 is journaled in the side fr ames of, and extends there-across the machine. The

` ends of the'respective rods 54 and 79 yare each provided with yokes 92, respectively, which supporting means for their rods. On each of 4 these rods is pivotally mounted a cam' roller 93 working in a box or groove vcam 94, formed in a camdisk 95, fixed upon shaft 91.- .The shaft 91 is driven by a spiral: gear wheel 96, with whichmeshes aspiral pinion 97, fixed on a shaft 98, suitablydriven from some other I part of the machine.V

` encircle the shaft 91 and act as guiding and By the mechanism plst'described, the

paling pins enter the heads of the successive sheets, Vor the heads vof the sheets are pressed successively upon the pins, by the cooperation y v 111', are fixed on a shaft 1112, journaled at 113 and 114 in the`sidejframes, and-extending across theI machine, Just below and in front blades are movable into and out of corresponding-annular grooves 115, cut in the periphery of the collecting cylinder. l The tips of the stripping bladesare moved into their grooves, at the moment of-delivery of the group of sheets, and direct the heads of the group of sheets below the stripping blades, away from the collecting cylinder,

The stripping and into-the guideway of the delivery mecha-y nism.

p 'lhestripping blades, in the embodied form, are resiliently impelled into the sheetstripping position by suitable means. Thev embodied formcof said means comprises an arm 116, fixed to the shaft 112. Pivotally connected at 117 to the end of arm 116 lis a rod 118, which rod is reciproc'ably mounted ing inwardly from the side frame of the machine. A helical spring 121 encircles the rod 118 and is in compression between the lug 120 and an adjustable collar'122 fixed to the rod 118. A pinned washer 123 is fixed upon theouter end of the rod 118.

.Means are provided for periodically actuating the stripping arms and their connected mechanism. As embodied, there is fixed to ed at 13.0 to the end vof said arm is an actuating rod 131. The other end of rod'131 is pivote at 132 tothe end of one arm of. a bell-crank lever 133, which is pivoted at 134 upon' the machine frame. .On the end of the other arm 135 ofbell crank lever 133 is rotatably mountc`am 137, Ato act-nate and control the stripper.

ed a cam roller 136, which cooperates with a fingers 111 in the manner already-described.v A series of guiding tapes are provided for eoperating in the guiding and directing the sheets from the collecting mechanism and to the delivery chains and grippers, and are shown in the drawings. These may be of any known, or other Vsuitable form, are indicated generally by reference numeral 128, and willnot be described in detail, except as to the wind-,breaking feature, which will-be later described; A plurality of"supporting and guiding bars 139 are also shown for directing and supporting the groups of sheets from the collecting cylinder tothe delivery mechanism, and these likewise may 'be of any known or suitable form and will not be described in detail.

Inaccordance with certain features of the invention, and in the present embodied form,

each group of sheets as it is carried tol delivery is engaged at a plurality of points along either side by a plurality of gripper mechanisms, and is conveyed in horizontal position to and over the' pile of delivered sheets, and

is there released tol drop upon the pile. In

accordance with certain .features of the invention, means are provided for stretching and smoothing the sheets, these devices being especially useful in the handling of a group A' uponwhich is pivotallymounted a cam rollerof very thin sheets, such as tissue sheets upon which the patterns for .womens clothing are printed.

In the embodied form of said means two endless, side-by-side, gripper-bearing sprocket chains 140 and 141 are arranged at either side ofthe machine, vertically disposed and with long horizontal reaches one above the other. The rear ends of these gripper-bearing chains are located directly in front of the mechanism previously described, .the upper and lower reaches of the two endless sprocket chains being in horizontal lalinement with each other.-

Y Fixed to the inner side -of each of the sprocket chains are a plurality of spring operated grippers 1.44,' each. gripper having a jaw 145 fixed to the chain, and a cooperating -spring jaw 146', pivotally mounted, and impell'ed to the closing position with respect to its companion jaw 145 byacoiled'spring'147.

Each of the pivoted, spring-operated jaws 146 has fixed thereto an actuating arm 148 149. These two sets of traveling grippers .engagethe two side edges of the groups of l sheets as they come from the collecting mechand drop them there. A

The sprocket chain 140 ait either end' of its. path runs over flanged supporting and guide rollers 159 and 160, and the sprocket chain- 141 at either' endof its path likewise runsover flanged guiding and supporting rollers 161 and 162. The roller 159 of chain 140 is rotatably mounted upon a stub shaft167 journaled on a bracket 168 on the forward end of the machine frame.v i Inv like manner the -ianged guiding wheel 161 of chain 141 is journaled upon a stub shaft 169 supported by a bracket 170, fixed tothe forward end of the other side frame of. the machine. .The rearward guiding and supporting'wheels 160 and 162 are differently mounted in a manner land for a purpose later to 4bel described.

The upper reaches of the two endless grip- 1 per carrying sprocket chains 140 and 141-- frame of the machine, whereby thisreach of the gripper-carrying sprocket chain-.may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly horizontally with respect to the width of the' Sheet. On the opposite side'of themachine, the corresponding gripper-carrying sprocket chain guideway 180 is fixed to and supported byl a plurality of brackets 186, which have like-vv wise an adjustable bolt4 and slot connection 187 ,with the upper face off the corresponding sideframe of the machine', whereby the guideway may be adjusted similarly to that on the opposite side of the machine and as already described. The bottom reaches of the two 'grippercarrying sprocket chain's are likewise run in supporting guideways, similar to those described for the upper reaches of th'e two chains, and these are adjustable in a similar manner, and need not be described in detail, and are designated by reference numeral 191. -These bottom guideways are carried on supporting lugs 192, projecting downwardly from the bottom faces of the respective side frames-of the machine, and are supported thereby and are horizontally positionableor adjustablerelatively thereto,`sim'ilarly to the gu'ideways for the top' reaches of the sprocket chains,already'described.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, theu frontend adjustable brackets for the, gripper-carrying sprocket chains are set an exceedingly small distance wider, or .farther apart, than the rear end ones, thereby exerting-a gentle smoothing and stretchingl Aaction on the vsheets as they are carried forward to delivery. This setting is optional,

and may be emploved Aor not, as may be found desirable or advantageous.

The means for, opening the grippers 145,

146 to take the group of sheets as delivered from the collecting cylinder v.in order` to car-ry them to delivery comprises periodically@ operating cam mechanism for opening a sufficient number of the grippers at either side of the machine to engage the respective side edgesof the group of sheets at various4 points therealng (Figs. 2, 3 and 7). In said embodied form, a non-rotating shaft/201 is supported in the machine frame at and 203,

'and-is held against rotation by a stop 204.

The mechanism at either side vis identical,

arid that shown in Fig. 7 will be alone described.` A' driving gear `205 is mounted,

free to rotate', on a sleeve 206, which sleeve at lits left-hand e'iid in Fig. 7 -is provided with 'an annular flange 207, txedto the, non-rotating shaft 201 by a clamping screw 208. Collars 209 and 210 at either side of the gear 205 the cam. While the sheets are collecting on l the collecting cylinder, cams 213 are moved backwardly to non-actuating position and the grippers run by idly.I

The embodied form of actuating and controlling, means whereby the two series .of grippers on, the respective sprocket chains are simultaneously opened .to deliver the are fixed to the sleeve 206 by clamping screws 211 and 212, respectively ,'to maintain the gear in longitudinal' position onthe sleev'e 206.

' A grippetfactuating cam 213 is non-rotatable on shaft 201, but is slidable longitudinally of the shaft, to move it into and out of I actuating position with respect to the grip.-

pers 145, 146. The cam'has an actuating face 214 (Fig. 3) which when in the actuating kposition cooperates with the cam roller 149 The cam l213 has `f of the` various grippers. l its hub 215 encircling sleeve 206, and a spline 216 between the sleeve fandl cam hub keeps 35- the cam from rotation, but permits it to slide longitudinally-of the sleeve 206. ,A friction washer 217 is provided between the cam hub and the hub of the flanged sprocket wheel 160. l s l.

. The means for moving the gripper-'actuating cam 213 along its shaft, to and from operative position with respect to the grippers, comprises a cam groove 218, formed in the hub of the gear wheel 205. A cam roller 219 runs in the cam groove 218, which cam roller is mounted on an arm 220, lixed to the .Y hub 21'5 of the'cam 213. Thus the -cam 213 is moved periodically into gripper-operating position and thenaway therefrom, being in thelatter position vhen no sheets are, being group-of slieetscomprises two long cam operating strips 251, extending along the entire distance at' either side of the group of sheets atA the delivery position. These strips' 251 are also located just outside and above the respective guideways .191 for the two horizontal reaches of the gripper-bearing sprocket chains 140 and 141. These cam operating strips 251 are supported at a plu- 4 tally disposed delivered from the collecting cylinder to the delivery xinechanism. y

vThus, through the timing action of cani grooves 218, cams 213 at either side ofthe .machine are moved to operative position, and thereby will open the grippers 144 of bothv series to a number corresponding to the length of the group of sheets which is beingl forwarded from the collecting lcylinder to the delivery mechanism, the grippers then closing in spaced relation along either side of the of sheets. As the grippers come downward' y from above at either side of the group of sheets, and at the rear end of the path of travel of the grippers, the bottom jaws of Athe grippers are'swung open by cams 213 ralityof rpoints in transversely and horizonguiding and supporting slots, formed in the supporting lugs 192.' for the lower Ksprocket chain guideway 191 (already described) A plurality of tension springs 252 are connected at 253 to the strips 251 and at- 254 to the rear part of the brackets 192. The springs, therefore, resiliently draw the cam actuating strips 151 outwardly "to inoperative position.

Means are provided for moving the two cani operating strips 251 inwardly to simultaneouslyopen all theY grippers which are gripping each side of a group of sheets-to drop the sheets at delivery position'. embodied, pivotal'ly mounted Qat 255 upon some of the lugs 192 are a plurality` of bell.-v

crank levers, one arm 256 of each lever being pivotally connected at 257 to the cam-actu-l ating strip 251. 4

Pivotally connectedl at 258 to the other. arms 259 of each of these bell-crank'levers is afcoinmon connecting and actuating rod 260, whereby thelevers are rocked together` to give a transverse horizontal-sliding and parallel actuating movement to the strip 251,

against the tension of the springs 252. Forthe purpose of actuating this entire mechanisin, to the .arm 259 of therearmost bellcrank lever, there ispivoted at 269 a rod 270. The rod -270 at its'v rear end is pivoted at 271 to one arm of a lever 272, which lever f is pivoted at 273 upon the machine frame. `On the end of the other arm 272 'of the lever is rotatably mounted a cam roller 274, which over the stack of delivered sheets and thereby deposit them.

The embodied formof driving means for the sprocket chains 140 and 141 comprises lgear wheels 281 and 282, meshing respectively with the upper and outer side of the top reaches of the two sprocket chains. These gear wheels are fixed on a .shaft 283, journaled at 284 and 285 in the side frames of the machine. i'

Additional smoothirig means are preferably4 provided, adapted to operate upon lthe groups of sheets. Said means as embodied, comprises a narrow transversely-disposed brush 301, movable'into andout of contact with the upper face of the group ofsnects just where the lower surface of the group of sheets is resting upon vand passing over a horizontally and transversely disposed table 302. This table is supported upon a cross beam 303, extending between and supported by, the side frames of the machine.

The brush 301 is mounted to move toward and awayfrom the group of sheets and is timed to come down upon the group of sheets just after the head thereof has passed the brush; For this purpose the brush 301 -is mounted on a pair of arms 302, which a-rms are fixed 0n a shaft 303, having journal bearings 304 in the machine frame.

Means are provided vfor resiliently holding brush 301 out of operative position, and in the. embodied form thereof, an arm 307 is fixed to a shaft 303. Pivoted at 308 to the end of arm 307 ois a rod v309, which reciproicates in an apertured lug 310, fixed to and extending inwardly from the side 'frame of the machine. A helical .spring 311 encirclcs the rod 309, and is in compression between 40 the lug 310 andan adjustable or positionable sorew-held'collar 312, mounted upon and Y variably positionable upon the rod 309.

Positive actuating means are provided for pressing the brushupon the lsurface'of the y groupofvsheets, and as embodied, an arm 315 is fixed to shaft 303, and'mounted upon the end of said arm is a cam roller 316, cooperating with a cam 317,' fixed on a driven shaft 318, having bearings `319 in the side.

. frames of the machine.

- In accordance l with one feature of the invention, means are provided also for neutralizing the dlsturblng actlon ofthe surv rounding airupon 'the front end of the- '55 group of sheets Aas itA moves forwardly f rapidly in the horizontal path, in the grip of the'grippers; to the place of delivery. In the embodied form thereof, means are pro- 'vided for projecting a sheet orv current of '60 air forwardly along `th`e top surface .of the group of sheets; and also a like sheet of air is projectedvforwardly along the bottom surface of the group of sheets.

The purpose is to Vneutralize the normal l relative movement of the air, and the disturbingf'infiuence thereof upon the rapidly advancing group of sheets. In the embodied form thereof, an air-.pressure supply pipe 321 is mounted transversely of the machine above the path of travel of the Oroup of'sheets which is carried to delivery.' ipe 321 i`s supplied with a plurality 'of forwardly and downwardly disposed nozzles 322, through which streams of air are projected downwardly and forwardly for the purpose described.. i

A like air-supply pipe 323 is mounted` transversely in the machine below the path of travel of the group `of sheets, 'and this pipe is provided with a plurality of forwardlyand upwardly directed nozzles 324, adapted to of air one traveling forwardly against and along the top surface of the group ofsheets. and the other traveling forwardly` against the bottom group of sheets, `and likewise tending to hold the sheets smooth and undisturbed. This effect, as indicated, could be obtained by merely increasing the force of the two'air currents.

` In accordance with one feature of the invention, a sheet delivery is provided, or `a stack table, which is fed gradually downwardly during the progress of the delivery of the sheets, to keep thctop of thesheet stark in most favorable relation vto the'sheetdelivery lnechanis'n'l. As embodied. a sheetsupporting table 333 is provided with screwthreaded lugs 334 at its corners` which have sc1e\\'-tlire:uled engagement with upwardly-v projeetin'g screw-threaded rods 335. These rods are. journnled at'thelr top. and bottoni ends in bearing blocks 33.6,'1nonnted upon the,

' machine frame.

Fixed to each of the serew-thremled rods is abe-vel ,in-ion 337 these )inionsineshilm respectively'with pinions 338, fixed on a horizontal shaft 330. Gradual and minute step'- by-step downward feed is imparted by snitable means to the stack table 333 through the vmechanism Ajust described.` 'As embodied, a bevel pinion 340 is fixed on one of the horizontal shafts 339, and meshingtherewith is a bevel pinion-341.' This vpinion is fixed on a short shaft to which is fixed also a pawl and ratchet mechanism 342, whichmay be of any known or" suitable forin. (The pawl and ratchet mechanism342 is actuated by a shaft 343, which has acrank connectionwith shaft 318. i

The drivingmeansfor the various driven shafts hereinbefore described, is partly shown in the drawings, but has not been described in detail herein, as such driving means is common and well-known and may be of any 'known or suitable form.

Othen means are provided for 1neutralizing the disturbing action of the air against the head end -of the group of sheets a, which are being carried to-delivery, and said means may be used' together with those, already described, or either may be used separately from the'other. The present form of meansv is.

shown in detail inFigs. 8 and 9.- To the upper forwarding tapes 129, at suitable intervals, are fixed transverselyfextending wind break flaps 224. These flaps are flexibly attached to each of the tapes 1293*, and are adapted to hang down in front of the head of the group of-sheets a, and cut/oil' the artherefrom and prevent disturbing wind action as the group of sheets is carried forwardly rapidly through the Dair.

The wind break flaps 224 are attached to the sheets in any suitable manner which `will permitlthem torun over the tape-guiding rollers either against the rollers lor on thev vbetween the tape and one of the guide rollers;

the flap .swinging freely when the opposite side of the guiding tapes runs over a roller. As shown in Fig. 8, the wind break flap 224 hangsdownwardly just in front of thehead of the 'group of sheets a, as shown in Fig. 48,

and constitutes a protection from the disf.

turbing action of the airr The invention inu its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanism shown and described but departures may be made there- 4 from Within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention'and Without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is 1. A sheethandling machine including in combination means for collecting a group of sheets, means for directing the collected sheets therefrom to a delivery mechanism, and a delivery mechanism comprising two series of spaced-apart grippers adapted to engage the side edges of the group of sheets, and convey them to theplaceof delivery and spring and cam controlled means for -causing the grippers to release the sheets at the .place of delivery,

said series being movable into-parallel or diverging relation.

` 2. A sheet handlingmachine including ih combination means for collecting a group of. sheets, means for directing the collected sheets therefrom to a delivery mechanism, and a delivery mechanism. comprising two series of spaced-apartspring and'cam controlled grippers adapted to engage the side edges of the group of sheets, and convey them to the place of delivery, each gripper having a fixed jaw and a movable j aw, and means for causing the grippers to simultaneously release the sheets at theplace of delivery. A

3. A sheet handling machine including in combination means for collectin'ga -group of l sheets, means for directing the collected sheets therefrom to a delivery mechanism, and a delivery mechanism comprising'two'series of- I {spaced-apart grippers adapted to successively engage the side edges of the group offsheets and convey'them tothe place of delivery, each gripper having a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, and each movable aw having lan actuating arm provided'lwith a cam roller -and a cam controlled sleeve member foroperating said cam roller, and 'spring and camV controlled means for causing the grippers to release th sheets at the place of delivery.

4. sheet handling machine including in combination means lfor collecting a group of sheets, means for directing the collected sheets therefrom to a delivery mechanism, and a delivery mecham'smvcgmprismg two -series of spaced-apart spring and cam controlled griplolo pers adapted to `successively engage the side edges of the groupof sheets and convey them to the place of delivery, spring and cam conv trolled means for causing the grippers'to si,- multaneously release the sheets atthe place of delivery, each of said grippers having a fixed jaw and a movable aw, said movable jaw lhaving an actuating'V arm provided with a cam roller, a cam controlled sleeve member for operating said cam roller and a timed actuatedfcam cooperating with said sleeve member. r'

5. A sheet handling machine including in combination means for collecti-nga group of sheets, meansfor directing the collected sheets therefrom toca delivery mechanism, and a delivery mechanisin'-comprising two series of spacedfapart grippers adapted to engage Ythe side edges of the group of sheets and convey them to the place of delivery, means comprising a cam movable into and out of operativer position for causing the grippers to simultaneously vrelease the 'sheets at the place lof delivery, and means for varying the path of travel of said grippers.

6. A sheet handling machine including in combi-nation means for conveyinga group of.4

sheets to delivery and a guard member for protecting the head of the group'of 'sheets from the disturbing action of the air.

' 7. A sheet handling machine including in combination means for conveying a groupv of sheets to delivery and means for protecting the head of the group of sheets from the disturbing action of the air comprising a member automatically positionable at the head of the group of sheets.

disturbing action ofthe air.

sheets to delivery, byengaging the side edges of the group of sheets, and means for protecting the head of the group of sheets from the disturbing action ofthe air, comprising a member automatically positionable at `the head" of the group of sheets.

11. A sheet handling machine including in combination means for collecting a group of sheets, means for `conveying the collected sheets therefrom to a delivery mechanism, a delivery mechanism comprising tWo series of continuously traveling spaced-ap art grippers,

means operating in timed relation With the collecting and conveying means for causing a set of the grippers to engage the group of sheets, and means for causing the grippers to release thel sheets conveyed by the set of vgrippers to the place of delivery.

12. A fslieet handling machine including in combination'mcans for `collecting sheets in groups, means lfor conveying the groups of collected sheetstherefrom in spaced-apart` relation to a delivery mechanism, a -delivery mechanism comprising tWo series of con'f tinuously traveling, spaced-apart grippers, means opera-ting in -timed relation with the collecting and conveying means for causing sets of grippers to engage the side edges of successivegroups of sheets, the intervening grippers L 'remaining non-operative, and means foi' causing thesets of grippers to release the groups of sheets conzeyed by them to the place of delivery.

13.V A sheet handling machine including` combination means for collecting a group of sheets, means for conveying the collected of vcontinuously traveling,

sheets therefrom to` a delivery' mechanism, a

delivery mechanism vcomprising two lseries spaced-apart gri pers, means comprising a-cam movable inf and out of operative'position in timed relation with the collecting land conveying means for causing a set of the grippers to 'of' continuously traveling,

engage the group of sheets, and means for causing the grippers -to release the sheets conveyed by the set of grippers to the place of delivery.

14. A sheet handling machine including incombination means for collecting sheets in groups, means for conveying the groups of collected sheets tlieiefromin, spaced-apart relation to a delivery mechanism, a delivery mechanism comprising two sei'ies of continuously traveling,l means comprising a cam movable into and out of operative position in timed relation with Ythe collecting and conveying means for causing sets of grippers to engage the side edges of successive groups of sheets, the intervening' grippers remaining non-operative,

spaced-apart s grippers,

and means forcausing the sets of grippers te release the groups of sheets conveyed by them to the place of delivery.

15. A sheet handling machine. including in combination means for collecting a group of sheets, in-eans for conveying the collected sheets therefrom to a delivery mechanism, a a

delivery mechanism comprising twoseries spacedapart grippers, means fo-r varying the space between \the series of grippers to accommodate sheets of different width, means operating in timed relation With the collecting and conveying means for causing a set of the grippers to engage the group of sheets, Aand means for causing the grippers to release the L sheets conveyed by 'the set of grippers to the place o'f delivery.

e .10o 1 6. A sheetvhandling machine including in 'combination means for collecting a group of sheets, means for conveying the collected sh/eet's therefrom to a delivery mechanism, ia 1delivery mechanism comprising tWodiverging series of continuously traveling, spaced-v apart grippers, means operating in timed rellationwith the collectinflr and conve'ine' D t:

means forcausing a set of the grippers., to

engage the group'of sheets and means for, causing the grippers to`relcase the sheets' conveyed by the set of grippers to the place of delivery.

17. A sheet handlingmachine including in combination a delivery 'mechanism for. a

group of sheets comprising means adapted to engage|` the -side edges of the group ot sheets, and means for conveying the group A of sheets tozsaid sheet-'engaging means com` iiprising a member automatically positionable4 at cthe head of the gro-u `of sheets for pro'- tecting them from the isturbing action of the air.

18, In a sheet handling-machine Vthe combination Aof tape means for conveying` a group of sheets, anda memberl pivotally mounted Ton said tape means and adapted to? automatically position itself at the head of the group of sheets to protect them from the iao vdisturbing action of the air.

19..A rsheet handling machine including' 1n combination a delivery mechanism com-v prising gripping means for engaging the side edges of a group of sheets, means frlctionallyy from the disturbing action oftherair while.

engaged by said grlpping meanscomprismg devices for directing currents.ofa'irk above and belovthe group of sheets. 20. A sheet handling machineincluding in combination a delivery mechanism comprising gri pping'means for engaging the side edges of a group of sheets, means frictionally engaging the group of sheets to convey the group to said gri'ppingmeans, a guard member carried by said frictional c'onveymg group of sheets from' the disturbing action of the air' While engaged by 4said gripping meansl comprising devices for directing currents of air above and below the group of 25 sheets.

In testimony whereof, have signed my nalne to thls speclication.

'nALrI-I o. SEYMOUR. 

